what is the normal cost to hire an attorney for a green card to the usa

by Amalia Gislason V 4 min read

Here are some typical legal fees for common immigration services: Green Card Petition for Relative: $1,000 to $3,500. Adjustment of Status Application: $2,000 to $5,000. Citizenship/Naturalization Application: $500 to $2,500.Dec 29, 2020

How much does it cost to hire an immigration lawyer in the US?

An immigration lawyer charges between $150 and $300 per hour, with a typical 30-min consultation fee of $75 to $150. Legal assistance when filing basic immigration forms costs $250 to $800, while green card assistance runs from $800 to $5,000, plus the USCIS fees of $460 to $700.

How much does immigrant attorney cost?

Average Immigration Lawyer Fees
ItemsAverage Costs
Lawyer's Hourly Rate$150 – $350 USD
Form Filing Assistance$250 – $2000 USD
Permanent Residency Assistance$1000 – $7500 USD
USCIS or IRCC Fees$400 – $800 USD
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Is it worth getting an immigration lawyer?

Yes, immigration lawyers are worth the money, especially if you're undergoing deportation of inadmissibility cases. They can also give you the best strategies to make your application process smooth and convenient.

Is it possible to get a green card without a lawyer?

U.S. Immigration law does not require you to have a lawyer represent you for a green card. If you are already married, then the person who is already a U.S. citizen will petition for their partner. If this is the case, you must fill out three forms for a marriage green card.

How much does it cost to get a green card through employment?

Application and costs for EB-1 Extraordinary Ability
EB-1 Green Card: Extraordinary Ability
Labor CertificationNo
Costs
$700I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
$1,140I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
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How much is it to get a green card?

How much does it cost to apply for a green card? The government filing fees for getting a family-based green card is $1,760 for an applicant living in the United States or $1,200 for an applicant living outside the United States.

How much do immigration consultants charge?

Professional Immigration Services
Application TypeProfessional Fees
Consultations with Regulated Immigration Consultant20 min - $125.00 40 min - $250.00
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What will immigration lawyer do?

The job of an immigration lawyer is to provide pragmatic and strategic legal advice on immigration in India. Immigration attorneys are primarily associated with the responsibility of assisting their clients on complex issues with regards to settling down as citizens of India.Jan 12, 2021

How much does it typically cost to come to America legally?

Despite its popularity, for many, becoming a U.S. permanent resident or a naturalized citizen is a long and costly process. If we sum up all the specific payments towards acquiring citizenship to the USA, the amount ranges somewhere between $4,000 to $11,300. Most people end up spending between $6,000 and $8,000.

Does USCIS send green card to attorney?

Remember, we will mail your card or travel document to the address you provided on your application (unless you told us to mail it your representative on Form G-28, Notice of Entry or Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative).Sep 21, 2018

How do I self sponsor my green card?

Eligible applicants for the green card through self petition category must:
  1. Possess extraordinary ability in the field of arts, science, education, business, or athletics or have been granted a National Interest Waiver.
  2. Hold a valid passport.
  3. Provide supporting evidence as required.
  4. Not be sponsored by an employer.

Can immigration lawyer speed up process?

While an immigration attorney cannot per say “speed up” your case, the immigration attorney is knowledgeable in immigration law and will know the best strategy and options for your case. Undeniably, this avoids any unreasonable delay by anyone lacking specialized knowledge in this area of law.

How Many Family-Based Green Card Applicants Hire Immigration Lawyers?

About 5 in 10 readers had a lawyer help them apply for family-based adjustment of status.

Selecting an Immigration Lawyer for Your Family-Based Green Card Case

If you’re not confident that you could navigate the adjustment-of-status process on your own, or your case involves any circumstances that might lead to a denial, it would be smart to speak with an experienced immigration lawyer—or even two or more attorneys before you decide to hire one.

What is an EB-1 green card?

An EB-1 green card is an employment-based petition for permanent residency in the U.S. The EB-1C was specifically designed for the most skilled and proficient business managers and executives. EB-1 green cards do not require PERM labor certification

Can a US citizen petition for a foreign citizen to live in the US?

U.S Citizens and legal permanent residents are allowed to petition for foreign relatives to come live in the U.S legally. There are two categories, namely Immediate Relative Petitions and Family Preference Petitions. The category of family members that are allowed to come to live in the U.S differs if you are a U.S citizen versus only being a green card holder.

What is a non-immigrant visa?

Non-immigrant work visas are visas that are obtained for the purpose to work, invest, trade and do business in the U.S. Non-immigrant visas only apply for a limited time period and do not lead to permanent residency or citizenship.

What is an E visa?

E-visas are visas that are obtained under a treaty which the U.S signed with another country in order to promote investment, trade, and commerce. These visas are focussed on trade and investment. The E-2 visa specifically applies to investors from the listed E-2 countries.

Can a foreign national get an O-1 visa?

Foreign nationals with extraordinary abilities in one of the below categories can obtain an O-1 non-immigrant visa. The purpose of the visa is for these individuals to engage in the activities in the U.S.

What is an adjustment of status?

An Adjustment of Status is where someone currently living in the U.S under a non-immigrant visa becomes a beneficiary of an approved immigrant petition and apply for their status to be changed to permanent resident. The person or entity that filed your immigrant petition has to file an I-485 form.

What is AC21 in the US?

AC21 is the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act. This act allows foreign nationals to change jobs in the U.S before they obtained their green card. So, if you are a foreign national and you applied for an Adjustment of Status, but you have not yet received your green card yet you can change jobs without it affecting your visa or Adjustment of Status application.

Nonimmigrant Work Visas

Attorney Fee: $2400 (does not include RFE responses, if applicable). Please note that the legal fee may be higher in certain complex cases. In any event, you’ll be provided a written quote before retaining our firm.

Addressing Potential Issues

In every possible instance, we do our best to anticipate any potential issues and address them in advance. For that reason, it’s imperative that you be completely honest and transparent regarding the details of your case during the initial consultation.

Immigration Consultations

SGM Law Group only offers free general consultations to certain individuals/businesses who are looking to retain a law firm for the following cases:

Is a notario a lawyer?

Note: If you come across a “notario” or immigration “consultant”, they are not lawyers and are not licensed to practice immigration law. Be very careful who you trust with your immigration needs. Navigating U.S. immigration is incredibly time consuming and complex.

What happens if you are here illegally?

If you are here unlawfully, an attorney can help you figure out if there is a path to legal status. If you’ve had any brush ups with the law, even if you weren’t convicted, you might be at risk for deportation. These are just a few scenarios in which the advice of an immigration lawyer is crucial.

What is the first step in the green card process?

The first step in a marriage-based green card process is for the petitioning spouse (citizen or permanent resident) to file an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative with the USCIS. After the I-130 approval, the next steps will depend on whether the beneficiary is staying in the U.S. or is living abroad.

How old do you have to be to get a green card?

However, you must be at least 18 years old and have a residence in the United States before you can sign the Affidavit of Support Form. The affidavit form is one of the mandatory items for a marriage-based green card application, so the minimum age is effectively 18.

What do I need to file an I-485?

After the approval of the I-130, the beneficiary will need to file an I-485, Petition to Adjust Status with the USCIS. The I-485 must be submitted with supporting evidence, which includes a birth certificate, proof of nationality, and proof of lawful entry to the U.S. (I-94 travel record).

How long does it take to get a green card after filing an I-130?

The petition itself takes about six months to process, but you will not be able to get your green card until your priority date is current.

Does USCIS have backlogs?

If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available visa numbers, then a backlog will build. Unfortunately, there is usually a backlog for each marriage-based green card category.

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What Is So Difficult About Applying for a Green Card?

The U.S. immigration system is widely regarded as "broken." The law itself is torturously difficult to understand. It takes lawyers years just to become comfortable with the ins and outs of various types of visas, green cards, and other benefits.

But I Like Doing Things Myself!

A few hours trying to fill out immigration forms, and you might just change your mind.

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